Hello my dear readers. First, thank you for all the support you've given to the story so far. It is far more than I expected. Second, this is turning out longer than expected, so this will now be a three part story and hope that this isn't too teasing of a chapter.

darck ben: Thank you.

PD31: As Freddie explained, his luck with women has sucked until he met Tori and now he has the nagging feeling that it is time to pay the Piper his due for being happy this long. Beck in this case has finally wised up to his mistakes when it comes to Jade and wonders now if he's good enough for her anymore as she has a lot of options now being so famous.

They're not exactly planning to ditch early, only that they will do that if he decides he wants to do it just between the couple, not that is the plan from the get go.

Bade had problems that weren't resolved in the series, only brushed under the rug. It finally came back up by the end of their freshmen year (or sooner if there is a sequel to iGwR) and they dealt with those problems.

Fanfic-Reader-88: Well someone has to rationally point out stuff to them. Thank you.

Challenge King: They either had to deal or they would have broken up for good. Once they passed the threshold of just being a bickering couple like C-3PO and R2D2 where it actually led them to breaking up once before, then the simply can't remain the status quo if they keep up their behavior.

mkpunk: Thank you. As I pointed out to CK: fix or breakup, they can't pretend forever. They just happen to fix them in this universe.

Teddie is simply a very compatible couple that doesn't have the baggage that Bade carries.

Invader Johnny: Thank you. That's left to be seen who will be faster on the draw with the proposal.

xxBadeRomancexx: Freddie is a good character to write that I've put through many struggles and a focused Bade piece is really something new—as in keeping them together than having them move on. The night should be very interesting for them and the moments hopefully should be satisfying.

DeadNotSleeping2048: Thank you. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

markman12: Thank you. I hope you continue to enjoy my stories in the future.

Twilight Warrior 627: This was the help get the Muse going to wrap up iGwR and I think it's doing the trick even if other things in life try to get in my way of writing.

Rating: T

Chapter 2

Tori and Trina Vega Residence
Hollywood Hills
Los Angeles, CA

Freddie pulled up the restored black '69 Dodge Charger into the driveway of the literal million dollars home about forty-five minutes before their reservation. Though his car was recognizable being such a classic and his attachment to Tori, he was hoping for a quite and private dinner, so much so that they were skipping out on her usual security detail if she went out at night. He really didn't want them as an audience when he asked the question and thankfully she didn't question his suggestion in leaving them behind.

He was glad he only had one more class that day between his conversation with Jade and Tori and this evening as he couldn't have really focused on a full day of classes with what he was planning to ask tonight. The last few days in hindsight were rough enough as he had been distracted through his classes and it was a minor miracle that Tori hadn't picked up on it during their nightly dinners. They may have lived separately, but they still maintained their nightly dinners if they were both in L.A.

The college student—the only one out of the four still in college—tried to relax and calm his nerves earlier between his class and leaving his apartment with a spurge of World of Warlords for several hours, but even that really didn't help. He was going to ask his girlfriend of the last three years to spend the rest of her life with him, so there was no pressure at all.

He dressed pretty casual that would just get him into the restaurant they were meeting: a dark blazer jacket, gray button shirt with the two top buttons undo and a pair of dark blue jeans. The outfit wasn't too dissimilar to what he had worn when to the Sadie Hawkins dance during his sophomore year at Ridgeway.

The brown eyed young man put the vehicle that Jade had help him find three years ago—obviously not in the pristine condition like it had just rolled off the assembly line—into park and turned off the ignition. He stepped out of the car and shut the door behind him then took a moment to look at the impressive two story home.

Tori had bought it after her first summer tour and the lease ending for their apartment since she wasn't returning for a second year. She had her music career taking off, a movie filming then her pilot for Eye Candy, so…

He could have moved in with her after she bought the home since she had offered and he had missed rooming with her over the last two years, but after their freshmen year of college ended they couldn't keep of the pretense up of just being roommates—as if anyone really believed such a thing. As much as he would have loved to remain her roommate, he couldn't in good conscious just cohabitate with her without being her husband. Hopefully after tonight, things could soon get back to how they were when they reconnected their freshmen year.

Freddie started his way up to the front door then once he reached the heavy wooden double doors; he nervously knocked on the door then patiently waited for either his girlfriend or her sister to open the door.

His wait was short lived when the door opened to reveal Trina in a baby blue silky robe that reached to her mid-thigh and looked like he had just caught her in the middle of getting dressed to go out as she had her hair and makeup done. Since high school, the older Vega sister had dropped a considerable amount of weight to about Tori's size and shape, unnecessarily in Freddie's mind as he thought she had always been gorgeous and she seriously would turn heads once she finished dressing if the formfitting robe was any indication.

He smiled to hopefully his future sister-in-law and happily greeted her, "Hey Trina."

The older Vega sister gave him a welcoming smile and pulled him into a quick hug. "Hey Freddie."

He easily returned the hug then the pair pulled apart after she placed a quick kiss on his cheek and she stepped aside to let her sister's boyfriend inside. She closed the door behind him while he commented, "Thanks." He glanced back at her and spoke, "I'm sorry if I interrupted you."

Trina waved him off. "It's okay. I just have to slip on my dress."

The computer engineer student parted his lips then awkwardly smiled and cautiously stated, "I didn't realize you were coming with us."

Trina snorted out and brightly grinned, "No, I got a date tonight. I ran into an old classmate from Hollywood Arts yesterday—I didn't actually have any classes with him, but he's really cute and built just like you. He's back in town to visit his dad and we got to chatting over lunch. When we were wrapping up, he asked if he could take me out tonight and I said yes."

"So someone at that school finally wised up what a catch you are?"

She directed a flirtatious smile to him and replied with a mildly smug tone, "It wasn't like that. He just wasn't dating our senior year because he was planning to move back home across the country for college. He didn't see the point in asking any girls out."

Freddie shrugged a shoulder and casually remarked, "It makes sense. You don't want to get involved in a relationship if you're just going to move and if he would have asked you out… it just might cause him to rethink his life plans."

Trina smirked and playfully swatted his shoulder. Freddie was never shy with his harmless and innocent flirting with the elder Vega and she always appreciated the boost to her ego when so many other handsome fellows were always so stingy to give any. She always thought it was because they lacked Freddie's self-confidence in speaking with such a hot woman and overwhelmed by her beauty and charm.

Fortunately, yesterday she had met someone that confident and was on his way so… Trina motioned over her right shoulder. "I don't mean to be rude, but if you'll excuse me, I need to finish getting all dolled up before my fella shows up."

Freddie grinned and bowed his head to accept her departure.

The lovely comedic actress turned and headed to her first floor bedroom. She threw a hand back and called out, "You two behave tonight and I expect my baby sister home by midnight, but don't wait up for me."

The computer engineer student chuckled and replied, "You behave yourself too… and don't stay out too late. Tori will worry!"

"No promises!" she shouted and echoed through the first floor as she disappeared around a corner.

Freddie shook his head with a grin nearly breaking his face. As much as the two sisters could get on each others nerves like sisters would, there was no doubt the general love and care they shared for one another. As he held back a chuckle and glanced towards his left, he stopped at seeing a beautiful sight walking down the stairs.

He smiled at his girlfriend of the last three years and just drank up her beauty with his eyes.

Tori wore a sleeveless black fitted to her figure little cocktail dress with a jewel neckline where her straightened brown hair rested over her shoulders and bust. The dress was made up of asymmetrical panels of faux leather from her neck to a few inches from under her bust then the rest jersey material to just above mid-thigh. On her left side of the asymmetrical waist seam, there was a slice of waist-baring cutout that allowed a teasing glimpse of her olive skin and was quite seductive to Freddie's eyes. Her outfit was completed with black Aldo Aenaria pumps that equalized her height with him and holding a black snakeskin clutch purse in her left hand.

The brunette bashfully smiled to him and bowed her head. She was mentally congratulating herself at the reaction she had brought to the young man she fell in love with three years ago. Other than feeling beautiful in his eyes, it also gave her the confidence in being able to persuade him from leaving the dinner early to give Beck and Jade some privacy if he needed it to pop the question.

Freddie held his gaze for several more then looked down at himself and muttered, "Wow, I feel so underdressed right now."

Tori smiled and stride two steps to him and then wrapping her arms over his shoulders and softly clenched her hands behind his neck. She stole a kiss from him then breathily spoke, "I'll take that as a compliment and I think you look fine."

"Thanks…" He suddenly stuttered then managed to say, "I mean… you look—"

The actress/singer sweetly smiled to him and interrupted, "Your stunned silence was all the compliment I needed."

Freddie let out a tension relieving laugh and placed a soft peck on her lips while his hands finally came to rest on her hips where his right thumb subconsciously brushed over her exposed skin. He grinned and remarked, "You really do look beautiful tonight."

"Thank you and you look ruggedly handsome as always, but…"

"But what?"

She let her arms slip from his shoulders and let her right index finger glide across the light stubble under his left cheek and to his chin. "I'm not so sure about the five o'clock shadow you've been rocking these last few days."

"Oh?"

She disarmingly laughed, "Not that you don't look good with it, don't get me wrong, but… I'm afraid it might tickle me too much."

He charmingly smirked and cocked an eyebrow while he teasingly questioned, "Oh? I think that would call for some investigation…" He leaned in for another kiss to her lips, one that she immediately felt like she was melting into while closing her eyes.

He pulled his lips away and placed another on her chin then started across her jaw line to her left ear. He spoke between delicate kisses, "…on where would I have to kiss before you became too ticklish?"

She let out a laugh and started to blush before he reached her earlobe. "Ah… as fun as that 'investigation' could turn out… we have a dinner date to get to and it would be quite rude if we didn't show up."

He pulled his lips away from her ear and sighed, but kept his playful smile. "Yes, you're right. It would be quite rude of us and I do so want to have one more fancy dinner with you before you have to go off and do all your big name actress duties for the next few weeks."

Tori hopefully suggested, "You know you could always come with me… your classes are almost done… maybe you could go ahead and take your exams early? I would love to have a handsome guy hanging on my arm."

Freddie grinned at the suggestion as he would very much enjoy doing such a thing, but he had his summer courses less than a week after the end of the quarter. If he wanted to graduate by this December—a half a year early for his degree—he couldn't really afford to skip out on the first summer class though it was quite tempting.

"As much as I would love to do such a thing… but I really can't miss my summer class and you'll already have a handsome guy hanging on your arm—one the fans of the movie would expect you to be on."

Tori rolled her eyes in referring to Beck, knowing that social media loved hooking them up repeatedly and that they would do so again once the movie was released despite not knowing if their characters were actually going to be romantically involved in the movie.

She reluctantly admitted with a playful roll of her eyes, "I guess he'll just have to do while you're here all alone and your head stuck in the computers…"

Trina called out, "Oh don't worry baby sister, I'll make sure he doesn't spend the entire time doing that."

The couple turned to see Trina stepped back into the living room holding her black coat over her right forearm and dressed in a sea-foam green dress that hugged her curves with the hem reaching half-way down her thighs with a plunging neckline that reached to a few inches under her bust, clearly showing that she was not wearing any upper undergarment.

Freddie laughed and easily commented, "Wow Trina, you look amazing."

The comedy actress smiled to the young man and replied, "Thank you."

Tori joined in the praise, "You're sure trying to make an impression."

Trina flashed them a Hollywood smile and confidently answered, "Well, a star like me has to be presentable if she's going out for the night."

The Seattle born young man teased, "You're certainly doing that tonight."

The older Vega sister beamed a smile to them, hearing that she accomplished her goal, but she still had someone else to impress.

A pair of headlights sweep across the living room from the large panel window, catching the three's attention.

Trina eagerly commented, "Oh, that's my fellaaa, don't wait up." She quickly slipped her jacket on with the help of Freddie while trying to balance her purse then she quickly made her way to the door.

The older sister opened it and the three saw the right profile of a cherry red 1965 Mustang Fastback parked out at the end of the driveway.

Trina grinned then waved back at the couple and happily started on her way to the car.

The young man stepped out from the driver's side and walked around the front of the vehicle. He was a muscular young man nearly identical to Freddie's height with dark brown messy in front hair and beaming a charming smile.

Tori thought the young man looked vaguely familiar, but couldn't quite place him.

The young man opened the passenger side door for Trina, who graciously smiled to him and exchanged a quick greeting. He shut the door once her legs were inside then turned to walk back around the front of the car. He stopped for a moment as he saw the couple standing at the doorway then politely gave them a two finger salute from his right eyebrow. He turned and walked back around the front of the Mustang then slipped into the driver's seat.

He started the vehicle then turned out of the driveway and the pair was on their way.

Tori knotted her brow and remarked, "You know… I didn't even catch the guy's name."

"Well, if he really did go to Hollywood Arts, you can look him up in the yearbook. You're not concerned are you?"

The brunette shook her head. "Nah, Trina'll be fine. She'd hurt him and I can always track her phone."

Freddie looked to his very lovely girlfriend and asked, "Okay… are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," she answered with a lick of her lips and took the lead in heading out of the house.

She stepped out the door and Freddie pulled the door shut behind them then the couple headed to the Charger.

Jade West Residence
Los Angeles, CA

Beck nervously paced around the living room of his high school sweetheart while Jade was up in her room getting ready. He was fashionably early or Jade was being fashionably late, but either way, it didn't concern the couple. She had let him in to wait in the living room then dashed back upstairs to finish getting ready. He barely got a glimpse of the young lady in her robe before she vanished, intending to look fantastic for the evening unknowingly to him for the sole purpose of helping her persuade to leave the dinner early in the event that Freddie wanted to ask Tori to marry him in private.

The young actor wore a loose tie around his unbuttoned collar to his white dress shirt. The rest of his outfit consisted of a very dark gray blazer jacket and matching slacks. He had his sleeves were rolled up midway up his forearms and shirt cuffs folded back.

He could have relaxed by having a seat and zoning out on some television as Jade had an impressive entertainment system (she spoiled herself in indulging in her little known quirk of loving her shoot'em up video games) or went to the kitchen for a drink (where he had bought her a few bottles of wine for special occasions as she still couldn't legally buy alcohol) to help calm his nerves, but of course that was out of the question since he would be driving tonight. So, he paced and occasionally patted his right jacket pocket to check for the umpteenth time that the black velvet box with the engagement ring was still in his pocket.

The former heartthrob may have been nervous to ask Jade for her hand, but that didn't mean he wasn't prepared. He had gotten a ring in secret earlier in the week in the guise of it being a prop in a future role and fortunately knew Jade's ring size.

He hadn't bothered asking Mister West for his permission in the traditional sense as he couldn't stand the man, they really didn't get along on the occasions they had to deal with one another and frankly didn't think his opinion didn't matter with how little he outwardly cared about his daughter more than something to mold into something he accepted—which would never happen.

He hadn't bother to discuss it with Mrs. West—Jade's mother, not Mister West's second wife—either as she never really forgave him for breaking her daughter's heart back in high school during their three month breakup and wasn't thrilled when they got back together. It wasn't that she didn't want to see her daughter happy, quite the contrary. As much sourness Jade could have towards her mother, the feeling wasn't mutual and she loved her daughter very much; she was just afraid that he would hurt Jade again. Mrs. West outright told him if he hurt her daughter like that again, she would cut his balls off and he had no reason to doubt her. It was that promise that finally made him realize why Jade could be standoffish with her mother: they were too similar for her liking. His only problem now, other than Jade's answer, was facing Mrs. West.

Beck's pacing was finally interrupted with a voice calling out from the stairs, "You are the second man today that's threatened to wear a hole in my new carpet."

The long haired actor turned at the sweet sound of his girlfriend's voice. He was about to question what she meant by that statement, but he paused in watching Jade slowly walk down the stairs, her left hand lazily sliding down the handrail and the other one holding her clutch purse with her black coat draped over her right forearm. He had seen the dress on her before last New Years, but seeing her in it still took his breath away. The form fitting dress was an eye catching solid blue halter top with a draped cowl neckline with the skirt reaching her mid-thighs. She wore matching color hair extensions in her hair as her straightened hair softly rested on her shoulders.

She teasingly smiled while questioning him, "You like?"

He grinned and smoothly answered, "Yes, I like it very much… and I think everyone else in the restaurant will like it too."

She draped her coat over the guardrail before taking her final steps to the floor then walked to him and rested her arms over his shoulders and lazily clasped her hands behind his neck.

His hands slipped behind her and rested on her bare skin exposed from the backless dress save for one inch or so thick strip running down her spine from the back of her neck to the dip just across the small of her back. His fingertips sent a pleasant ripple through the pale skin actress and brought a teasing smile across her lips.

"Then I guess I'm glad I have you to set them straight."

He flashed her a smile that would melt nearly any woman to his charm and dipped his head down to steal a quick kiss, but turned into a slow, sensual one when Jade wasn't ready to pull away. She softly moaned into the kiss as she deepened the kiss and his fingertips trailed further to her spine.

The very dark, nearly black haired brunette shivered from his fingertips dancing along her spine then pulled her lips away and moved her hands to his shoulders. She whispered in a seductive tone, "Careful or I just may decide to skip dinner and we could have some… tacos…"

Beck kissed her one more time then replied, "That's very very tempting, but we do have dinner date with Tori and Freddie."

Jade closed her eyes and groaned in frustration at the mention of their names. At any other time she would have blown them off with the knowledge that they would understand, but Freddie needed her moral support for tonight. He had been a better friend to her than she had deserved over the last few years—eerily similar to Tori (probably one of the reasons why they were seemed so perfect for one another), but without any hesitation in pushing back—and was there for her during her and Beck's last rough patch that nearly broke them for good because they never really dealt with the original problems that broke them up for three months during their senior year of high school. He was unwavering on her side of the disagreement to the point of straining his relationship with Tori when she wanted to remain neutral and she would always be grateful to him for going to the mat for her in the face of a disapproving girlfriend and the others either remaining quiet or taking Beck's side as he had called them out on their behavior.

She opened her eyes and sighed, "You're right. Let's go ahead and go before we're late."

The musician pulled her arms away and turned back to the handrail to retrieve her coat while the former high school heartthrob lifted a corner of his mouth and right eyebrow, curious as to how she didn't put up an argument. He brushed it away and stepped past her to pick up her coat for her.

Beck flashed a smile to her to interrupt any comment from his girlfriend's questioning gaze. He stepped behind her and held up her black coat that reached her mid-thigh. He couldn't help but let his eyes wonder across her back.

Jade looked over her right shoulder and raised an alluring eyebrow before she slipped her left arm into the sleeve then switch hands to hold her clutch before slipping her arm into the other sleeve. She turned and he pulled the coat closed for her.

He offered his right arm and Jade happily accepted it before he lead them towards the front door.

Author's Note: Okay, they are heading off to a dinner that will change their lives one way or the other. Hopefully I will have the final chapter finished by Wednesday evening.

For those of you curious, the dresses are from outfits the actresses themselves have worn:
Tori's dress is one that Victoria wore out with friends outside 1 Oak in West Hollywood, CA on May 31, 2014
Jade's dress is Elizabeth Gillies' dress she wore at the Glitter & Glam Book Launch Party
Trina's dress is the one Daniella Monet wore to the 2014 KCAs.